Tracker-bar.



G. P. BRANIL TRACKER BAR.

.uruonxon rum) nn. 7, 1909.

INVENTOR GE'O/rGE E 5mm),

Patented May 17, 1910.

2 SHEETS-BEBE! 1.

WITNESSES ,m/

ATTORNEY G. P. BRAND.

TRACKER BAR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

958,470. Patented May 17, 1910.

2 SKEBT$-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOB 650/765 PER/1N0 2/' 70 v 7 By ATTORNEY lnnazw a, mumco. worwuwoem uzns. WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. BRAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRACKER-BAR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BRAND, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tracker- Bars, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to What are known in the art as bridges ortracker-bars in pneumatic apparatus, such as piano and other musicalinstrument players in which a perforated music sheet is employed.

The present invention has for its object among others to provide animproved form of tracker-bar in which the bleed holes are madeaccessible for cleaning or for regula tion as to size. The bleeds aredisposed adjacent the face portion of the bridge or tracker-bar Wherethey are easily accessible by removal of the cap or face piece.

The invention is capable of embodiment in a variety of forms, some ofwhich only I have chosen to herein illustrate.

The invention, in such preferred forms, is clearly shown in theaccompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference markedthereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is aperspective view, with parts broken away, showing my improvedtrackerbar, the cap or face piece being shown as removed by full linesand indicated in position by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of aportion of the cap piece or face removed. Fig. 3 is a cross sectionthrough the tracker-bar. Fig. 4 is a similar view through a modifiedform of the tracker-bar. Fig. 5 shows in top plan with portions brokenaway, still another form of embodiment of the invention. Fig. (3 is across section through the form shown in Fig. 5.

All of the Views are enlarged beyond the normal size of the tracker bar,for the purpose of better illustration.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to tracker-barsof any desired length, or number of holes, the tracker-bar being made toaccommodate a relatively large number of note-holes in a given length,and the invention is in no wise to be con strued as restricted to atracker-bar of any given number of notes to the inch.

Referring first to Figs, 1, 2 and 3, 1 des- Speciflcation of LettersPatent.

Application filed April 7, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Serial No. 488,341.

ignates the bed or tube support having in its upper face the ducts 2which, in this instance, are shown as staggered and having leadingtherefrom the conduits 3 of ordinary construction and for the usualpurpose. 4L are openings in this bed or tube support with whichcommunicate the conduits 5 which are designed to lead to the tensionchamber or action of the player.

6 is the cap or face. It is provided with the desired number ofnote-holes 7 which communicate with the individual ducts 8 in any of thewell-known Ways, such, for instance, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 where theducts are shown as staggered and inclining in opposite directions forcommunication with the ducts 2 of the bed or tube support 1, as seenclearly in Fig. 3. This particular arrangement of ducts and note-holes,however, is not made the subject-matter of this application and thearrangement thereof may be variously modified. In the under face of thecap or face piece 6 are channels or chambers 9, in this instance shownas extending upon opposite sides of and at both ends of the centralportion 10 through which i the ducts 8 and the note-holes 7 extend. Theportions of the chambers at the ends communicate with the openings 4leading to the ducts 5, as will be readily understood upon reference toFig. 1.

11 are bleed holes, one for each of the ducts 8, each bleed holeaffording communication between said duct and the chamber 9 upon one orthe other side of the central portion 10 of the cap or face piece, aswill be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 3. These bleed holesmay be formed in any suitable manner, as by drilling, and may be made ofany required size.

The adjacent faces of the cap and bed are ground so as to form anair-tight joint and the cap may be held in position upon the bed in anysuitable manner. In the present instance, I have shown the bed as havingrising therefrom the studs 12 adapted to engage in corresponding socketsor depressions 13 in the under side of the cap,

screws or other analogous means 14 being employed and passed throughopenings 15 in the cap and engaging in corresponding openings 16 in thebed for firmly yet detachably holding the cap in place but allowing ofits quick and easy removal when desired.

It will be understood upon reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that, when inposition and in operation, the bleed is through the openings 11 into thechamber 9 and from thence through the ducts 4.- and conduits 5 to theaction or tension-chamber. Whenever, from any cause, the bleedsneedcleaning, it is only necessary to remove the cap, when the bleedsmay be easily and quickly cleaned of any dust or other foreign substancethat may have accumulated therein and the cap then put back and securedin position. If it is desired to vary the size of the bleed holes, thiseanbe easily done by removing the cap and reaming out the holes.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the same idea embodied in a reversal of theconstruction, that is, the bed or tube support 1 is provided with thechambers 17 and the bleed holes 18 extend from the ducts 2 instead offrom the ducts in the cap piece. The result is the same, the removal ofthe cap piece provides ready access to the bleed holes. It is to beunderstood that the cap is to be detachably secured in place by means,such as shown in Fig. 1, or any other convenient form of fasteningdevices.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the same characteristic feature of theinvention but in a tracker-bar in which the note-holes 19 extendstraight and entirely through the cap 6 for communication with thenote-holes 20 in the bed or tube support 1, the ducts 21 being in thebed and staggered, as shown. In this instance, the bleed holes 22communicate with a chamber-23 in the cap, it being evident that thechamber need be upon but one side of the centrally disposed note-holes19. It is to be added that I should consider a reversal of theconstruction shown in Fig. 6, in a manner similar to the reversal of theconstruction of Fig. 8 as indicated in Fig. 4, clearly within the scopeof my present invention.

The relative size of the note holes and ducts may vary, for instance, inFigs. 8, t and 6 the note holes are shown larger than in Figs. 2 and 5.

From the above, it will be seen that I have devised a simple andetlicient form of tracker-bar for the purposes described, in

which the bleeds are not only in proximity to the note opening in thetracker-bar but also easily accessible, and, while the practicalembodiments of the invention as hereinbefore disclosed are what I at thepresent time consider preferable, it is evident that the same is subjectto changes, variations and modifications in detail, proportion of partsand other accessories. I therefore do not intend to rest-riot myself tothe form and details hcreinbefore described. but reserve the right tomake such changes, variations and modifications as come properly withinthe scope of the protection prayed.

Skilled labor or mechanic is not necessary in order to repair the playerin case a note does not properly respond, as anyone can readily cleanout the bleed holes and this in a very short time.

That is claimed as new is 1. A sectional trackerbar having ducts andbleed holes opening into the same inaccessible when the tracker sectionsare assembled and readily accessible for cleaning upon removal of one ofthe sections of the trackerbar.

2. A tracker-bar comprising a bed and a removable cap, said tracker barbeing provided with note-holes and bleed holes inaccessible when the capis in place and accessible upon removal of the cap.

3. A tracker-bar comprising a bed and a removable cap, the same beingprovided with note-holes and with bleed holes inaccessible when the capis in place and accessible upon removal of the cap and a chamber withwhich said bleed holes communicate.

1. A tracker-bar comprising a bed and a removable cap, said tracker barbeing provided with note-holes and bleed holes inaccessible when the capis in place and accessible upon removal of the cap and a chamber withwhich said bleed holes communicate, and exhaust conduits leading throughthe bed and communicating with said chamber.

5. A tracker-bar comprising a bed and a removable cap, said bed and caphaving note-holes and bleed holes there being a chamber with which saidbleed holes communicate said bleed holes being inaccessible when the capis in place and accessible by removal of the cap.

6. A tracker-bar comprising a bed and a removable cap. said. bed and caphaving note-holes and bleed holes there being a chamber with. which saidbleed holes eom municate said bleed holes being inaccessible when thecap is in place and accessible by removal of the cap, the adjacent facesof the cap and bed being ground to form an airtight joint.

7 A tracker-bar formed of a. plurality of superposed parts, one of saidparts having bleed holes, and another removable for access to said bleedholes.

Signed by me at Vashington. District of Columbia, this 30th day of March1909.

GEORGE P. BRAND.

Witnesses:

E. N. BOND, JOHN Somvnnnn.

